We opened the official page and checked the deadline, the funding and the application route.
Leiden University
Leiden University Excellence Scholarship (LExS)
We found and reviewed this scholarship through an external listing. Confirm current details with the provider.
Tuition-fee scholarship for eligible students joining a full-time Leiden University Master's degree programme. It is not a full scholarship.
Do I qualify 7 requirements for everyone + route options
Do I qualify
These eligibility rules were checked against the official page. They still need to match your own circumstances.
Everyone needs
- not eligible for Dutch government student finance (Studiefinanciering)
- degree excellent academic results in previous study programme(s), relevant to the Master's programme Exact current official rule
- enrolment full-time Leiden University Master's degree programme Exact current official rule
- degree Master's programme at Leiden University starting in September
- Not open to: degree LLM (non-advanced) or MSc programme at Leiden Law School Exact current official rule
- Not open to: degree study programme starting in February Exact current official rule
- Not open to: degree applicants who already obtained a Leiden University Master's degree, except when the Master's programme requi… Exact current official rule
These depend on how you qualify. The provider describes 2 ways, and you will not need all of them. The official page shows which applies to you.
- nationality non-EEA/non-EFTA passport holders Exact current official rule
- nationality all nationalities for Advanced LLMs and MSc in International Relations and Diplomacy Exact current official rule
- Not open to: residence UK applicants already living in the Netherlands and registered in their Dutch municipality's BRP before 2021-…
Preferences and flexible criteria (1)
- degree top 10% of graduates in previous study programme
Not open to:
LLM (non-advanced) or MSc programme at Leiden Law School; study programme starting in February; applicants who have already obtained a Leiden University Master’s degree, with the exception of students applying for a Master programme for which a specified previous Master programme or work experience…
LLM (non-advanced) or MSc programme at Leiden Law School; study programme starting in February; applicants who have already obtained a Leiden University Master’s degree, with the exception of students applying for a Master programme for which a specified previous Master programme or work experience is mandatory; applicants who were already living in the Netherlands and registered in their Dutch municipality's BRP before 1 January 2021Show the full text
- Level of study
- Master's
- Fields of study
- Any
What's covered Partial funding
- Funding type
- Partial funding
- Funding details
- Awarded for the duration of the programme at one of five levels: EUR 10,000, 15,000, 17,500, 18,500 or 19,000 of the tuition fee. It is not a full scholarship and does not cover the full cost of studies.
- Duration
- Duration of programme
- Host country
- Netherlands
- Host institution
- Leiden University
What I need Not listed here
The full document list lives on the official page — we do not republish it, because it changes between cycles.
Apply On universiteitleiden.nl
How to apply
These required steps were checked against official details for this cycle.
- Apply online for admission to a Leiden University Master's programme and pay the application fee if applicable. Allow time for the admission application, which can take up to 3 working days to create or submit. Required Open this official step
- After submitting the admission application, return to the Apply screen in the online application and click Scholarships. Required
- If LExS is visible in the scholarships section, indicate that you want to apply and upload an LExS motivation letter as a PDF of no more than 500 words explaining why you wish to be considered for the award. Required
- Submit the scholarship application before the LExS deadline. After submission, changes or additional items cannot be sent. Required
- Deadline
- 1 December 2026
- Deadline notes
- The older Scholars4Dev listing gives an annual deadline of 1 October or 1 February; the current official Leiden page gives 1 December 2026.
- Application cycle
- 2026 application cycle
- Notes
- Applicants must upload an LExS motivation letter as a PDF of no more than 500 words.
Details to confirm
- Some eligibility wording is ambiguous in the source — read the exact wording on the official page.
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